Study Desk

Baptism means we share his death, burial, and his resurrection.

When we share in his death, we get to share in his life as well.

Jesus was brought back to life, never to die again. Death doesn't have the reins to his life.

I'm using cowboy lingo because I don't want you to say fancy words tripped you up. At one point, we were all hands in sin's outfit. But now, we ride for the Lord and are slaves of his for his good purposes.

No one could follow the code of Moses. The Code couldn't save us because we are sinners by nature and unable to follow the Code no matter how hard we try. God did for us what the Code could not. He sent his son to live a perfect life for us and then be sacrificed as the last and final sin offering.

The spirit you've been given doesn't make scared slaves. The Spirit was given to you when he adopted you as one of his own kiddos. That's why we call him, "Abba, Daddy."

When his spirit ties hard and fast to ours, we know we are God's kids.

If we are his kids, then we are his heirs. Together with Jesus, we will inherit God's glory. But if you want the glory, you'll have to share in the suffering.

We have no doubt God will take the reins and lead all us cowboys and cowgirls who have answered his call to green pastures.

God knows who will ride for him. He chose them to ride for his Son and become like him. Jesus would be the firstborn of God's line of kids.

Since he chose them, he calls them by name to come to him. When they answer, he made them right with himself. Since they have been made right with God, he gave them his glory.

If God were willing to give his son as a sacrifice for you, do you think he would hold other things from us?

There ain't no fence, no gate, nor any mountain or problem that will be able to keep us from the love of God that is found in his only Son.

God chose these people to work his pastures and be his own adopted kids. God showed himself to them. He made promises to them and told them what it'd take to receive those promises. He allowed them to worship him and come right into his presence.

But just because all the Jews won't be saved doesn't mean God has crawfished on his promise to his kids.

That's how it is with God. He is the master tooler and can choose to do what he likes with his mercy and his anger.

He does this to show his power and his glory to those who he has called, who were prepared before the dawn of time.

So, do you think God has somehow double-crossed his own people? That's foolishness! I'm an Israelite, an ancestor of Abraham and part of the Benjamite Crew.

God didn't double-cross his own people. He chose them from the get-go. Have you not studied the Good Book? Elijah complained to God about his own people when he said,

So, has God totally given up on them? Again, no! Sure, they've been trying it their own way, but all that got them was God inviting the outsiders to his table. It wasn't that he shunned his people, it was so they might become jealous of the favor he granted the outsiders and come back to Him.